Prince William Plays Video Games With Teens During Youth Charity Event

The royal duo chatted with young adults about how certain organizations helped empower them.

By Samantha Schnurr Aug 24, 2016 2:22 PMTags
Prince William, Kate Middleton, CharityTwitter

Prince William and Kate Middleton are picking up where they left off in the fight for Britain's youth. 

After vacationing in France with their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the royal pair resumed business as usual during a royal visit to the English town of Luton on Wednesday. During their trip, they dedicated their attention to three organizations, including Youthscape and Keech Hospice. 

To begin, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge kicked back with teenagers at Youthscape's recently reopened location in Luton's Bute Mills, where they played video games, spoke to teens about how the organization helped empower them through difficult times and participated in an online support group geared toward helping young people stop self-harm. The royals even sat down with James Corden's sister, Ruth Corden, who works with teens at Youthscape. 

"That's my sister!!!!!" James tweeted Wednesday. "So proud of her today and the amazing work she's doing." 

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After meeting one teenager with a history of self-harming who sought the help of the center after her mother tragically died, Prince William offered a few words of encouragement. 

"What happened should never have happened to you and you should never have gone through it," he told the 18-year-old. "The fact you have gone through it and got where you are now, you should be really, really proud."

The visit got even sweeter when the couple was presented with chocolate rice krispie treats made by some of the teens who frequent the center's kitchen after school.   

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After speaking with various faith and charity groups who work with Youthscape to help young people develop socially, emotionally and spiritually, the royals headed to Keech Hospice, which provides free and specialized care to adults and children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. 

While it was a busy afternoon for the couple, the royals smiled all the way through, Kate dressed in a wardrobe favorite—her blue and white floral sheath dress by LK Bennett. William coordinated with his wife in a pair of blue trousers, a tan suit jacket and navy tie. 

Both have been outspoken advocates of programs supporting children and teens in Britain, particularly when it comes to advocating for mental health resources. Along with Prince Harry, the trio launched the Heads Together campaign, which is meant to facilitate healthy discussion and break down the stigmas attached to mental health. The organization was the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon's Charity of the Year and the race currently has over 250,000 runners signed up to participate.  

According to a statement from Kensington Palace, it is the "biggest single project Their Royal Highnesses have undertaken together."

"Like most parents today, William and I would not hesitate to seek help for our children if they needed it. We hope to encourage George and Charlotte to speak about their feelings, and to give them the tools and sensitivity to be supportive peers to their friends as they get older," she wrote as a guest editor for The Huffington Post. 

"We know there is no shame in a young child struggling with their emotions or suffering from a mental illness."

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